India expects UK to act on Khalistanis

India will seek firm action from Britain in dealing with Khalistani and other anti-Indian militant networks based in Britain — a problem that surfaced dramatically in this week’s attempted murder of retired Indian army officer KS Brar in the heart of London.

New Delhi has taken a dim view of the British government’s inaction in checking the activities of these militants, who disrupted this year’s Independence Day celebrations in the town of Coventry — home to a large population of British-Indians.

Foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai, who is in London ahead of next week’s strategic dialogue between senior officials of the two countries — an annual series — has already raised the issue with the British foreign office minister responsible for India, Huge Swire.

Next week’s meeting will see the Indian side restate its concerns. India objects not only to the disruptive activities of such militants but also their unchecked ability to spread anti-India hatred through speeches.

Mathai told a meeting at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) on Thursday that it is time to strengthen and deepen counter-terrorism cooperation between India and Britain. “Much more can be done by our two countries,” Mathai said, “for example by establishing mechanisms for exchange of actionable intelligence in real time.” India already has such mechanisms in place with the US ad France.